6 Beautiful Trees with Attractive Bark

Trees offer so many features to the garden and landscape. Namely size, stature, privacy, shade, flowers leaves, and even colourful attractive bark. This last featue is particularly important with the deciduous trees - it gives the garden interest at a time when the rest of the garden is dormant. So without further ado, here are six beautiful trees with attractive bark. And yes, the bark of a dogwood is also quite nice ...

Paperbark Maple

Paperbark Maple
Acer griseum
This striking small to mid-sized specimen tree is arguably one of the most popular in the nursery.

Its size makes it ideal for today's smaller gardens and its multiple seasons of interest make it a great choice for most gardens. Deciduous green leaves turn a striking orange-red in autumn before they fall.

Outstanding cinnamon red-brown peeling, flaking bark looks great when silhoutted against a snowy winter landscape. Prefers full sun to part shade in moist, but well drained soils. Grows 2-25ft in height and 15-20ft in width. Hardy in zones 5-7.

Coral Bark Japanese Maple

Coral Bark Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum 'Sangu Kaku'
This Japanese maple variety is also extremely popular with customers. Architectural branching and light chartreuse green leaves in emerge in spring turning gold, orange and red in fall. As winter returns, Sangu Kaku's trunk and stems intensify into a brilliant coral red in colour. Great when planted in a location that is visible iduring the winter, for example, near a doorway or from a kitchen window. Ideal when combined with dwarf conifers, rhododendrons, camellias and other japanese maples. Grows 15-20ft in height and 12-15ft in spread. Prefers part shade to part sun, but will tolerate more sun if kept somewhat moist. Soil should be slightly acidic, moist but well drained. Can be planted in containers and gardens. Altough it is hardy in zones 5-8, protect from cold winds and expect some winter tip dieback with this variety. Deciduous.

Japanese Stewartia

Stewartia pseudocamellia
Japanese Stewartia
This deciduous specimen tree is a native of Japan's mountainous forests. It features green leaves, white camellia-like, summer blooming flowers with golden yellow stamens and striking red fall foliage colours. It's trunk is reddish-brown and peeling to reveal a pink, cream and gray inner bark.  Young trees begin narrow and columnar gradually widening with age. Although it is slow growing, it will eventually reach 20-40ft in height and 15-20ft in width. Grow in full sun in organic, moist, but well drained soils. Zones 5-8.





Himalayan White Birch

 Himalayan White Birch
Betula utilis var jacquemontii
This mid to large sized deciduous tree features striking white bark and green leaves that turn yellow in fall. A vigorous grower, it will ultimately reach 40ft in height and 20ft in spread. For an eye-catching look, plant it in combination with purple or red leaved trees such as japanese maples or flowering plums. Grows best in full sun in cool, moist, slightly acidic soils. Hardy in zones 4-7.

Arbutus, Madrone

Arbutus, Madrone
Arbutus menziesii
This native British Columbia tree is also one of the few broadleaf evergreen trees found in our area. Its a magnificent tree commonly found in coastal areas and is easily recognizable by its broadly spreading shape and exfoliating bark covered in cinnamon-brown scales. New exposed bark is lighter in colour and highly polished in appearance. Leaves are glossy dark green on top and pale green below. Sweetly fragrant clusters of white flowers appear in early summer and can attract hummingbirds. These bell shaped flowers are followed my brilliantly coloured orange-red roundish fruit in September and October. This tree is hard to transplant so plant them permanently when young. Grows best in coastal areas with mild maritime winters, hot dry summers and low summer moisture. Hardy in zones 7-9.



River Birch

 River Birch
Betula nigra
This under-used tree has one of the most attractive barks available. Whitish gray in colour and covered in pink, brown, orange and cream coloured flakes and papery strips. Leaves are diamond shaped with serrated edges and green in colour. Quite nice for creating dappled shade below. Foliage turns yellow in fall. Although the River Birch is fond of flood plains and wet, moist soils typically found along streams, rivers and ponds, it is also quite drought tolerant once established. Will reach 60- to 80ft wide and 40ft across in maturity.




These gorgeous trees and many others are available at Art's Nursery in a variety of sizes and prices. Drop by and browse our tree section or meet with one of our experienced horticulturists to learn about even more trees with multiple seasons of interest.